Parasol.



M. L. SOBRA. PARASOL.

APPLIOATION rum) DEC. 20, 1911.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

prion MARGUEEITE L. SOBRA, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

PARASOL.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, MARGUERITE L. SOBRA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Parasols, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification.

My invention pertains to parasols, and especially relates to parasols having interchangeable coverings. It is desirable that a lady, in traveling from place to place, should have at her command, without un duly increasing her baggage, a plurality of parasols of colors which accord with the various dresses which she may wear. In

order to meet this requirement, variousparasols and umbrellas have from time to time been devised, such parasols having collapsible sticks and being provided with interchangeable outer coverings. In the use of parasols of this character, the stick is collapsed and placed, with the various coverings, in a trunk or suit case, during travel. When it is desired to use the parasol, it is unpacked and the stick set up, the proper covering being placed upon it, according to the dress which is being worn. Parasols of this character, as heretofore constructed, have been subject to several disadvantages, among which may be mentioned that the manner of securing the interchangeable covers to the ribs was such that the covers became damaged after a very short period of use. Another disadvantage was that ribs of the same color were employed with the various coverings of dilferent colors; so that for instance, the end of a black rib would protrude from a pink covering.

It is the object ofmy invention to obviate the above, and other, disadvantages of the above type of parasol as heretofore constructed, and to provide a foldable parasol having interchangeable coverings, which will be of a good appearance and of a convenient and durable construction, and which may be placed upon the market at a reasonable price.

A parasol constructed in accordance with my invention, is described, by way of eXample, in the following specification, and shown in the accompanying drawings. It

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 20, 1911.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

Serial No. 666,986.

the false tip for receiving the end of one 7 of the ribs; Fig. 4 is a sectional detail view illustrating the form of clasp employed and the manner of attaching it to the covering and to the ribs; Fig. 5 is a .view, of a diagrammatic nature, illustrating the manner of attaching the covering to the ribs; and Fig. 6 is a detail view of one of the false tips.

Like reference characters refer to like parts throughout the following description and the several figures of the drawings.

Referring now particularly to Fig. 1, the parasol stick consists of a tube 10, preferably formed of steel, and provided, at its lower end, with a threaded stem 11, the lower end of which ends substantially flush with the ends of the ribs. The threaded stem 11 is adapted to have screwed upon it the threaded socket 12 of a detachable handle 13, the handle being thus removable from the stick, at will. In order to prevent loss of the handle, a chain 14:, having a swivel 15, is connected between the stem 11 and socket 12. When the handle is connected to the stick, the chain 14; lies within the handle; when, however, the handle is detached from the stick, the chain prevents the handle from being taken entirely away, while, at the same time, enabling the handle to be laid beside the stick for packing purposes. At the upper end thereof, the tube 10 is provided with an internal threaded collar 16, which receives the threaded end of a stem 17, which forms the parasol foot. The outer end of the stem 17 is provided with a knurled head 18, for permitting the stem to be screwed into and out of the collar 16. When it is desired to collapse the parasol, the stem 17 is screwed inward, until its threads cease to engage with those of the collar 16, whereupon the stem 17 may be pushed bodily into the tube 10. The stem 17 is prevented from passing entirely within the tube 10, by an inwardly stamped projection 19, with which the tube is provided. It will be seen that, when the stem 17 has been pushed into the tube 10 and the handle 13 has been removed and folded over against the ribs, the length of the parasol is reduced to the length of the ribs. All the parts which are subjected to the effects of moisture, are preferably made of some non-rusting material.

The covers are, of course, of precisely similar construction, differing only in the color of the silk and of the false tips employed. Each cover consists of a central cap 20, adapted to fit snugly upon the stem 17, so as to be slidable on and off the same as required. To the cap 20, the silk covering is attached in a manner similar to that used in attaching the covering to the corresponding cap of an ordinary parasol. Secured to the covering 21, and eXtendmg along each seam thereof, are a plurality of tapes 22 (Figs. 2 and 3) having sewed thereto the stud portions of a number of clasps for securing the covering to the ribs. These stud portions, designated 23 in the drawings, are spaced at equal distances along each of the tapes. At the outer end of each seam, a false tip 24 is provided, for receiving the end of one of the ribs. These false tips are eX- ternally of a similar shape to the tip of a parasol rib (Fig. 6); but they are made hollow so as to accommodate the ends of the ribs and are provided with rearwardly ex tending shanks 25, by means of which they are attached to the tapes 22. The silk of the covering is sewed completely around the tips, perforations 26 being provided to enable this to be done. The tips 24: are of the same color as the particular covering in connection with which they are used; so that, regardless of the color of the covering, the effect of the ribs matching the covering will be obtained. The ribs of the parasol are shown at 27. The manner of attaching the ribs to the tube 10, and connecting them to the stay-ribs, etc., is similar to that employed in the ordinary parasol, and need not be described herein. To each of the ribs 27 is secured, by stitches 28 passing through suitably placed holes in the ribs, a tape 29 similar to those secured along the seams of the covering. Secured along the tapes 29, are a plurality of clasp-sockets 30, these sockets being so placed that they will cooperate with the studs 23 on the covering, when the covering is placed in the proper position with respect to the ribs.

The manner of attaching the covering to the ribs is as follows. The cap 20 is first slipped over the stem 17; and the covering is then stretched down over the ribs. The

ribs are then bent, as indicated in Fig. 5, to enable their ends to be inserted into the false tips 24. When the ends of the ribs have been inserted into the false tips 24, the ribs spring straight again, and the covering is thus stretched upon the ribs. The studs 23 on the covering are then pressed into the sockets 27 on the ribs, so as to make all secure. When it is desired to replace the covering by another, the above operations are reversed, the clasps being first separated by removing the studs from the sockets, and the ribs 27 being then sprung out of the false tips 24. The cap 20, carrying with it the covering, may then be slid off the end of the stem 17.

The parasol described above has the advantage that, by reason of the provision of the reinforcing tapes, there is little likelihood of the continued attachment and removal of the coverings damaging the latter. The parasol has the further advantage that it may be folded quickly, into a minimum compass, while, when extended, it is firm and rigid. The provision of the false tips, matching the various coverings, adds to the neat appearance of the parasol. These advantages are secured by constructions and combinations which are pointed out in the appended claims. I

I wish it understood that where I use the word parasol, I intend to include umbrellas and like devices.

What I claim as new and desire to secure Letters Patent, is:

1. The combination with a parasol frame including a stem and ribs, and clasp members secured to the outer sides of said ribs, of a removable cover having reinforcing strips secured within the same so as to register with the ribs when the cover is placed upon the frame, and clasp members carried by said reinforcing members and adapted for connection with the clasp vmembers carried by said ribs.

2. The combination with a parasol frame including a stick and ribs carried thereby, of a removable cover having means for detachably securing it to said ribs, and hollow tips carried by said cover and adapted for the reception of the ends of said ribs, said hollow tips being formed with a series of perforations, extending around the edge thereof, to permit the cover to be attached to said tips completely around the top edge of the same.

8. The combination with a parasol frame including a stick and ribs carried thereby, tapes secured to the outer sides of said ribs, and clasp members carried by said tapes, of a removable cover, reinforcing tapes secured to said cover so as to register with said ribs when the cover is in place upon the frame, clasp members carried by said reinforcing tapes and adapted to connect with the clasp members of said ribs when the cover is In witness whereof, I have hereunto subplaced upon the frame, and hollow tips carscribed my name in the presence of two witried by said cover and adapted to receive the nesses.

ends of said ribs, said tips having a series of MARGUERITE L. SOBRA. holes formed around the edge thereof, to Witnesses:

permit said cover to be secured to said tips MABEL REYNOLDS,

so as to surround the upper edge thereof. MARGUERITE MESSETT.

Gopies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

' Washington, .D. G. 

